You wonder why your attempts at losing weight always seem to miss the mark. It’s not for lack of knowing what it takes to shed the pounds. You understand the importance of eating right, exercising, and drinking plenty of water. You also recognize the need to stay dedicated to the plan. And therein may lie the problem: despite your best efforts, you simply get bored with the day-to-day regimen of following strict weight loss protocol. But before you let boredom derail your motivation and progress, why not try putting some excitement into the endeavor? These eight ideas will show you how to make your weight loss journey interesting and fun so you can stay the course, drop the weight, and meet your goals once and for all.

Try a New Eating Trend

Diets come in all forms, but it can be hard to find one that doesn’t eventually grow tiresome. Don’t give up trying though. Eating for weight loss is a hot topic today and new trends are always emerging, including those that consider individual tastes and preferences. One example is intuitive eating, which teaches you to eat when you’re hungry, pay attention to when you’re full, and focus on foods that satisfy your palate and health needs rather than adhering to rigid dietary rules. With a little research, you’re bound to find an eating plan that inspires and excites you.

Make Fitness Fun

Exercise is an essential component of any weight loss program, but if you hate to exercise, maybe it’s because you haven’t found your fitness groove. With so many ways to exercise nowadays, you have many options to consider and try. Look into racket sports, hiking, biking, cardio classes, dance, water exercise, team sports, and more. You can also download exercise apps to make fitness more convenient and personalized. Get motivated to get moving by finding a way to exercise that piques your interest, and learn how fun it really is to get fit.

Trim Down with Friends

Friends make any task more fun, and that’s especially true when it comes to weight loss. Having others to reach goals with, support you, and provide social interaction can turn losing weight into an entertaining activity you eagerly anticipate each day. So what can you do with a partner or group to make weight loss a good time? Set up a schedule to meet for indoor or outdoor workouts. Offer prizes for reaching weight loss goals. Enroll in a healthy cooking class together, or just check in with other weight loss seekers for conversation and encouragement.

Get Creative with Food

Make eating seriously fun by trying new, creative recipes that are diet-friendly. Experiment with textures and flavors as well as different cooking methods. Even if you’re following a specific diet plan, like keto or the Mediterranean diet, there are all kinds of unique ways to prepare healthy meals. Spending time in the kitchen learning about food and how to make it benefit your body and taste buds is a fun and productive activity that will yield lifelong results. Not only that, you’ll come up with a new list of favorite recipes you can share and enjoy with others.

Amuse Yourself Daily

Laughing doesn’t just make you feel happy; it can help you lose weight. According to a study conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, you burn 2 to 10 extra calories just by having a good chuckle for 10 to 15 minutes. Of course, laughing won’t take off all the weight, but it can keep you in a positive mood, encouraging healthy behaviors and improving other aspects of your well-being, including heart health, immunity, and stress levels–all which boost the odds of being victorious with your weight loss efforts. The best part? Laughing is fun!

Enjoy a Favorite Treat

Just because you’re trying to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of all the bad foods you like. Treating yourself to a chocolate chip cookie or French fries occasionally won’t do major harm and may help satisfy your fixation on the food. It’s also something to look forward to every now and then. Bear in mind, moderation is key. Choose a small portion of the food and indulge sparingly. You might be surprised how easy that is to do. For many people, the more they turn to healthy food when temptations hit, the less they crave the junk food.

Throw a Party

If you like to throw parties but think they’ll hinder your weight loss efforts, here’s some good news: you don’t have to be a party pooper to shed pounds. Sure, there’ll be food and drinks beckoning you, but you can control the menu and elect to serve tasty, healthy party fare, like hummus, veggie trays, fruit kebobs, and wine spritzers. Parties are also fun to plan, host, and participate in, plus they make good distractions that put your mind on people and conversation. Consider entertaining with lively games and activities to boost the fun for everyone.

Celebrate Your Successes

Every pound lost is cause for celebration, so make it a point to acknowledge and reward your progress as you work toward your weight loss goals. Obviously, you don’t want to blow it by gorging on fatty, high-calorie foods, but you can enjoy some self-pampering, like buying a new piece of clothing to complement your changing figure, taking in a movie with a friend, or soaking in a warm bath at home to relax. Celebrating the steps in your weight loss journey makes it more motivating, reinforces healthy habits, and sets you up for a greater likelihood of long-term success.

Don’t let boredom with losing weight lead to a failed attempt. With the above ideas, you can turn shedding pounds into a pleasurable, exciting endeavor that brings desired results. What could be more fun than that?